Florida expands fight against invasive Burmese pythons with competition and GPS‑collared possum bait

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District have launched the Florida Python Challenge, a 10‑day contest running from July 10 to July 19. Participants can earn a $10,000 grand prize for removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades, with registration now open. Last year’s contest yielded a record 294 captures, bringing the cumulative total to 1,406 pythons removed.

In a parallel effort, researchers at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge are using GPS‑collared possums as mobile sensors to locate hidden pythons. When a possum is swallowed, the collar’s mortality alert pinpoints the snake’s location, allowing teams to retrieve the animal. The program, funded by the South Florida Water Management District, has already led to the removal of at least 18 Burmese pythons, some over eight feet long. The initiative adds a low‑cost, technology‑driven tool to Florida’s expanding anti‑python arsenal, which also includes drones, thermal imaging, and scout snakes.